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The memoirs of a Ukrainian soccer star who lived through a lot. He was the center forward of Lviv’s Ukraina Team in 1935-9. From Encyclopedia of Ukraine: “During the Soviet occupation of Galicia he played on Kyiv’s Dynamo team (1940-1) and under German rule he played again for Ukraina (1941-43). As a post-war emigre, he played on Ukrainian DP (displaced persons) teams...After turning professional he played for two years (1948-50) on Nice’s team in France’s highest soccer league and was recognized as the best centre forward in France. After emigrating to Canada in 1950, he served as captain of the teams Ukraina and Edmonton and Ukraina and Trident in Toronto.”
The award-winning player and coach was also a sports commentator. “his memoirs... are a valuable source on soccer and sports in Ukraine and in the postwar emigre community.”
Skotsen started out in junior team of Bohun Lwów, but after it was closed down by the Polish authorities in 1931, he continued to play at Tryzub Lwów In 1934 Skotsen debuted for the Tryzub's senior team.[In 1935-1939 he played Ukraina Lwów in the district league of Lwów Voivodeship.
During the World War II and Soviet occupation in 1939 Skotsen was added to FC Dynamo Lviv.[1] In January–April 1940 he was listed as a player of FC Dynamo Moscow. Later Skotsen was called on to army and was sent to organize army team in Lviv, DKA Lviv. From September 1940 to June 1941 he was on a roster of FC Dynamo Kyiv. After the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, Skotsen returned to Lviv where he coached a local team of the city opera and played for the revived Ukraina Lwów in 1941-1943. In 1943 Skotsen was a playing coach for Dovbush Kolomyia and Lemko Sanok. In 1944 he moved to Slovakia where he joined MŠK Žilina playing at the 1943–44 Slovenská liga. The next season Skotsen spent in Ukraina Salzburg. In 1946-47 he played for Ukraina Ulm and Phönix-Alemannia Karlsruhe (a predecessor of Karlsruher SC).
In 1948 Skotsen played for Olympique Charleroi in the 1947–48 Belgian First Division. Couple of seasons between 1948 and 1950 he spent playing for OGC Nice. After that he emigrated to Canada where he played for several Ukrainian teams.
24 x 16 cms, hardback, 638 pages.
1985
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